The former Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday and Aberdeen defender is set to swap Mechelen for Liege

Het Nieuwsblad report that Standard Liege are set to sign David Bates from Mechelen. The former Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday and Aberdeen defender will cost €500,000 and sign a contract for several seasons. Bates, 27, is a former Scotland international who has been playing in the Belgian Pro League since joining Mechelen in the summer of 2022. This will be the defenders third Belgian club after spending the 2020/21 season on loan with Cercle Brugge. .

Bates began his career with Raith Rovers before joining Rangers on a permanent basis in 2017. He then went on to play for Hamburg, Sheffield Wednesday, Cercle Brugge and Aberdeen before moving to Mechelen. Bates had just one year left on his contract with Mechelen and will leave after making 67 appearances for the side, the most he has made for one club in his career. During his time with Malinwa, the defender scored five goals.